Boiler-tube cleaner.



PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

. W. S. ELLIOTT.

BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED 111N114. 1906.

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No. 856,628. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

* W. s. ELLIOTT.

BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

APPLIQATION FILED JUNE 4, 1906. v

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER-TUBE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed June 4, 1906. Serial No. 319,998.

To (bf/Z whom, it 7Tb6tZ/ concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Boiler-TubeCleaners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of acleaner embodying my invention, looking at the cleaner in two differentpositions; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; Fig. 4 is a plan viewshowing a modification; Fig. 5 is an end view of the form shown in Fig.4; and Fig. 6 is a plan view showing another modification, and Fig. 7 adetail showing another modification.

My invention has relation to boiler tube cleaners, and is designed toprovide a cleaner having a plurality of rotating cutters which are soarranged as to enable them to adapt themselves readily to inequalitiesin variation of the scale, and also to provide a cleaner head in whichthe weight is so disposed as to effectually assist in the cutting actionof the cutters.

YVith these objects in view, my invention consists in a rotary,centrifugally acting cleaner head having a plurality of freely swingingcentrifugal acting arms provided with cutting wheels at or near theirfree extremities, the said wheels being carried by shafts or spindleswhich are capable of an independent movement relatively to the freelyswinging arms.

My invention also consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombination of parts all substantially as hereinafter described andpointed out in the appended claims.

Referring first to the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2and 3, the numeral 2 designates a slotted head, in which are pivoted thefreely swinging arms 3, said arms be ing secured in the slots of thehead by means of the'pivot bolts 4. Pivotally secured to the free endportion of each arm 3 by a pin or bolt 5 is a stirrup 6, which isprovided with bearings for spindles 7 j ournaled therein and carryingthe cutter wheels 8. In the ar rangement shown in these figures, two ofthe spindles 7 are carried by each stirrup, and each spindle has thereontwo cutter wheels, one at each end portion. The stirrups 6 are capableof a rocking motion upon the pins or pivot 5 independently'of theswinging movement of the arms 3, and as a result of this movement thecutter wheels are enabled to adapt themselves to inequalities andvariations of thickness of scale.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. -.l and 5, each of the freelyswinging arms 3 is formed with a slotted jaw f), at its free end.portion, in which is pivoted a clip 10 carrying the cutter-spindle orshaft 11 upon which two of the cutter wheels 8 are mounted. Themodification shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that shown in Fig. 4, withthe exception that the freely swinging arms are of different lengths, soas to bring the cutter wheels 8 into alternating or staggered relation,thereby enabling them to cut in different circumferential planes. Thissame modification may also be applied to the form of head shown in Figs.1, 2 and It will be noted that the weight of the parts which are mountedon the freely swinging arms, and which carry the cutters is contralizedwith respect to the central axis of the head and that the weight ofthese parts at this point is thus made effective in increasing thecentrifugal action of the cutters.

In Figs. 1 to 6 I have shown the pins or pivots 5 which secure the clipsor saddles 6 and 10 to the freely swinging arms as passing centrallythrough such clips or saddles. i may, however, arrange these pins nearerto one end or the other of the clip or saddle, as shown in Fig. 7, forthe purpose of increasing or decreasing the throw of either of thecutter wheels.

The shafts or spindles 7 are preferably headed at one end as shown at 7,and. at their opposite ends are provided with collars 7 which retain inplace the additional cutter 9 wheels, and which are secured to thespindles by means of the pins 01' rivets 7 This collar gives an extendedbearing for the pins 7, and forms secure retaining means. Instead ofmaking these spindles or shafts continuous, however, it is obvious thateach cutter wheel may be mounted upon an independent shaft or spindle.

The cleaner head is preferably connected to the driving means by auniversal joint 12, as shown in Fig. 4. A universal joint is of especialadvantage in connection with this formof head, for the reason that itpermits the unrestrained movement of the head within the tube, wherebythe freely swinging arms together with the cutters may assume variousangles with respect to the axis of the tube, and thus increase theeffectiveness of the cutters.

By the term freely swinging arm as used herein and in the claims, Irefer to an arm which is so connected to its head or carrier as to befree to act centrifugally when rotated within a tube to be cleaned.

Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, since What I claimis 1. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a freely swinging pivoted arm,a cutter-carrier connected to said arm and free to swin independentlythereof, and a rotary cutter carried by the said arm; substantially asdescribed.

2. A boiler tube cleaner having a pivoted, freely swinging arm, aplurality of cutters carried by the arm to swing therewith, and acarrier for said cutters mounted on the arm to have an independentrocking movement; substantially as described.

3. A rotary tube cleaner having a freely swinging, pivoted,centrifugally acting, arm, a shaft or spindle pivotally secured to saidarm, and a cutter mounted on theshaft or spindle; substantially asdescribed.

4. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a plurality of freely swingingarms, clips or stirrups pivotallysecured to said arms, and having cuttersupports, and cutters carried by the supports; substantially asdescribed.

5. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a plurality of pivoted, freelyswinging arms, cutter carriers mounted on said arms to swing therewith,and also to have an inde pendent rocking or swinging movement, and aplurality of cutters mounted on said carriers, said cutters beingarranged in alternating or staggered relation; substantially asdescribed.

6. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a slotted head, adapted to berotated at a high speed within the tube, arms pivoted in the said headand free to swing at right angles to the axis of the tube, and aplurality of cutter wheels carried by said arms upon pivotal supportswhich are capable of an independent swinging movement in the planes ofsaid arms; substantially as described.

7. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having an arm free to swing at rightangles to the axis of the tube, and adapted to be rotated at a highspeed within the tube, a clip or stirrup pivotally secured to the freeportion of the arm and having cutter wheel bearings, and

cutter wheels carried by the said bearings at opposite sides of the clipor stirrup pivot; substantially as described.

8. A boiler tube cleaner having an arm free to swing at right angles tothe axis of the tube, a clip or stirrup pivotally secured to the freeportion of the arm and having cutter wheel bearings, and cutter Wheelscarried by the bearings at opposite sides of its pivot, and unequallydistant from the pivot; substantially as described.

9. A rotary boiler tube cleaner havingv a pivoted, freely swinging arm,a cutter carrier connected to said arm and free to swing independentlythereof in a parallel plane; a cutter mounted on the cutter carrier, anda universal joint connecting the cleaner head to the driving meanstherefor; substantially as described.

10. A rotary boiler tube cleaner consisting of a head having a pluralityof pivoted centrifugally acting arms which are free to swing in a planelongitudinal of the axis of the tube, shafts or spindles carried by thesaid arms and capable of an independent rocking or swinging movement, ina plane substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the arms, andtoothed cutters carried by the shaft or spindles; substantially asdescribed.

11. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a freely swinging centrifugallyacting arm, a freely swinging saddle or clip carried by the arm andhaving wheel journals, and cutter wheels mounted on the said journals;substantially as described.

12. A boiler tube cleaner having a pivoted, vibratory, centrifugallyacting arm free to swing outwardly from the axis of the tube, a cuttercarrier pivotally secured to the said 100 arm and capable of anindependent swinging movement, and a rotary cutter wheel mounted on eachend portion of the carrier; substantially as described.

13. A boiler tube cleaner having a head re 5 adapted to be rotated at ahigh speed within the tube to be cleaned, a plurality of vibratory,centrifugally acting, freely swinging arms pivoted to the head, a cuttercarrier pivotally secured to the outer end portion of each of the arms,and a plurality of cutters mounted on each carrier and having theircutting edges in different longitudinal planes; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 1 I5 my hand.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT. Witnesses:

A. L. ELLIOTT, J. IRWIN GREEN.

